Day one of the North American International Autoshow (NAIAS) brought us the unveiling of the long awaited Mazda Kabura, a 3+1 seat piston powered concept coupe. The concept shown at the autoshow is not rotary powered, but the comment from Maury Callam was "this one isn't rotary powered." Mazda needs to make a business case for making this car in a rotary powered version, and it won't happen without your input. Take a look at our day-one photo gallery of the Mazda Press Conference and booth, (Click here) then leave your feedback. There needs to be a flood of messages, even if the message is short, it will count.

We will have more coverage of the Detroit Autoshow tomorrow, including more technical information on the Kabura. Click through to see images from today.

Rumor has it that it'll weigh 2400-2500 pounds... why would you want it heavier? The Miata, despite have a relatively low power-weight ratio, is one of the most-fun cars I've driven thanks to its low weight.

Its three seats will make it practical, its light weight will make it fun. Putting the rotary in it would make it that much better. It's the most exciting concept I've seen in years... Mazda, you must build it.

I think Mazda may just be Killing themselves to appease Ford if they go with a Piston engine. I have just introduced a few Advanced Driving Instructors to the joys of Rotary by giving them a play in my RX7, and although they have been to look at the RX8 and loved the performance, it is a smaller car they would prefer.
Go on Mazda, give US at least the choice when buying a Kabura, and keep the rotary success alive.
A proud UK Rotor owner :)

My old RX2 series 3 (1974) has a single distributor (electronic)12A engine with a 5 speed (1979 RX7) gearbox. I drive around 150 Km's (94 miles) per day to and from work (country). My fuel economy is at around 10 Km/100 Litres or round the 30 (Imp) MPG.
With Renesis technology, modern fuel injection and a body weight around the same as an RX2 (1000Kg), Mazda would have one hell of an entry level Rotary.
This is a suggestion to show the gas guzzelling reputation of the rotary is a myth. I suggest a Renesis 12A as it is a well know small engine and the 12A has been under estimated by many.
Mazda doesn't mention kerb weight of this vehicle unfortunately, but if it were close to 1000Kg,
What a winner!

This concept is amazing! The sheer potential is astounding. Mazda, you need to build this car. Although I would prefer a rotary, a decent powered 4-banger (175hp+) would also suit me. A small, lightweight, RWD car with Mazda's handling prowess would be an enthusiasts dream. I repeat, Mazda, build this car.

Mazda,
Please build this car. Rotary, piston, whatever. I'd prefer a rotary option, but the important thing is getting a RWD coupe out on the market. You'll be the only company offering a cheap RWD coupe, and it should sell like hotcakes.

Mazda,
The Kabura concept looks like a winner to me except for the engine. It is a very simple equation for me, no rotary - no buy. I have owned a rotary vehicle for the last 21 years and currently have an 84 GSL-SE, 94 RX-7, and 04 RX-8 in my garage. I simply do not buy non rotary vehicles. I loved the Miata from day one, but would never own one because it is not rotary powered. I idolize the first generation RX-7s, live in fear of my 400bhp 94 RX-7, and enjoy the daily driver RX-8 every single day. From what I see so far, I would also love to have a Kabura (or whatever you end up calling it) sitting in line with my other rotary cars.

I'm a simple man to please and I put my money where my mouth is. A few years ago I wrote a similar message to Mazda asking them to build the RX-8. I promised to buy one if they did and I ordered one in August 2003 (thanks for the free maintenance). I have never been crazy about the exterior styling of the RX-8, but many parts of it were outstanding and it had the most important feature - Rotary Power - so I bought it.

The Kabura's styling is better than the RX-8 (in my opinion) and I would buy it if you made it with rotary power. Please make it as light as possible so you can keep the rotary normally aspirated. Less than 10:1 weight to bhp ratio and 2 seats is where you need to be on this car to separate it from the RX-8 crowd.

I'll bet people would pay for a new rotary powered car that significantly outperforms the Nissan Z, and I bet they would pay more than the cost of the Z if the car is packaged right (Zero to 60 in less than 5 seconds, quarter mile in low 13s, and the best handling in the segment).

Please build the Kabura!
Please build it with a Rotary!!
Please equip it to beat the competition!
Thanks again for the Renesis and the RX-8.
Mike Kingsley

Rotary is the way to go in the future. Every car should be powered by a rotary engine but then there wouldnt be any competition. Mazda has to keep striving to improve life ability on rotary engine. That is the only thing that is holding them back.

While I appreciate and understand all the considerations that have to be made when considering bringing a concept like this to life, I would strongly recommend considering a rotary engine for this car. The rotary engine has always been the heart of the Mazda sports car, and moving to a piston engine for a car such as this would leave the unique technology of the rotary behind.

The high revving, high horsepower-to-weight ratio Renesis engine would do this car justice, if properly implemented. Go ahead, turbocharge it, or supercharge it, or 3-rotor it, whatever. Just please don't let the rotary be left out of such an amazing concept car.

Mazda and the Rotary Engine are inseparable & known worldwide. The design of the Kabura with its see through bonnet, is crying out for something special to lay beneath, and that must surely be something no other car manufacturer can offer,,,, THE ROTARY ENGINE.
I own a RX-5 series 2 Cosmo, when I take it around the classic car shows it often attracts people like bee,s around a honey pot. I think this is because of its unique design (no one in the U.K has seen one before) and the icing on the cake is the Rotary under the bonnet, it impresses many people. Every impressed person is surely a potential Rotary Engined Mazda convert and customer. Now you have the Rotary very near perfected why not use it to its full potential? So come on Mazda you have the car design, make it a ROTARY or at least give it a Rotary option.

You have lead the way with the Rotary Engine for many years now. You are as important as Felix Wankel himself.

Look at your achievements with this engine from all type of motorsports around the world through to Le Mans in 1991.

I was actually hoping that the RX-8 would lead the way to a new Le Mans campaign, which hasn't happened as yet.

I am actually quite scared that you won't be continuing with Rotary Power. This will have an impact around the world, probably bigger than you are aware of. There are 100's of companies that now specialise in modifying Rotary Engines, and everything Mazda.

You must continue, and the Kabura concept - if designed with the RX-3 Spirit in mind would be a real let-down if it didn't have a Rotary Engine option.

1000's of people out there love the Rotary Engine, please don't let them all down by not providing a Rotary option for such a wonderful looking car/concept.

Thanks again to Dan and Berny for providing us with a direct contact to Mazda - you guys are legends!

I say there should be an option for Kabura. Its only for the better of Mazda to do bussiness with the world. For me I preferred rotary over piston. Give what the people want and we'll all be happy.

Mazda shouldn't come out with a new rx7 because the legend lives on. It would be a disapointment, there is only one rx7 and no car like it. Please accept what rotary offsping has to offer. Go rotary powered!

I am racing both of my RX-7's in SCCA and other sanctioning bodies and since both are older and have tired chassis, they cannot compete as readily (in the stock classes). I will be converting my '93 into ASP or SM2 class specs in order to be competetive. BUT, even with my childhood dream car and big plans for the '93, I would IMMEDIATELY sell both my 7's in order to pay (pre-order) for a new "kabura" IF it has a ROTARY option with +255 ps. I wish to represent Mazda with the kabura in national SCCA autox, putting to shame higher powered cars with pure dynamics, skill, and the unique powerplant. If it does not have +255 ps, I would have to sit down and think about purchase more.

Over the years Mazda has been synonymous with some damn fine sportscars. No one planned the MX-5 to go the way it did, become the World's best selling sportscar, but it did and I'm sure Mazda are happy with this.
The Kabura is another awesome looking car. 350Z meets RX-8 meets the future. It's gotta be rotary though. Else you become another run-of-the-mill option, where's your differentiator ? Now it may be that Mazda believe it would cost too much to develop, that the fuel use isn't good enough, etc... I guarantee though that you put a rotor in that car and blow it and people will queue up for such a beautiful car with heaps of power !
I'm sure Mazda didn't expect the RX-8 to be as successful as it was. There's your proof, rotary does work, is sexy, is incredibly smooth and is now reliable !!!

Dear Santa,
My GSL-SE needs a replacement soon due to issues that pop up bi-annually. I also have a second car: it's a grocery getter, gas sipper, and FWD... = BORING! I would love to dump that and own more Rotaries instead. A NEW Rotary, no... not the RX-8, I don't have any kids yet and I don't need to haul around people under 5'4" in the back. Make it a 2 seater, FUN, QUICK, and has a little bit of charisma (notice I didn't ask for FAST, because that would just increase the price). We 1st gen lovers are a little cheap. THINK GSL-SE or S2000, but hardtop and HALF the price and I'll buy TWO, one to drive and the other to keep in the garage. You know how much mint 1st gen GSL-SE's are going for nowadays Santa?
While your lil elves are busy in the next few months listening to the comments here, they can start thinking about a Rotary TRUCK also. Now, how hard is it to design a truck? Not really hard I hope, just a few seats and a bed, even Honda's got one now. But your Truck would be different Santa, you got that one trick under your sleeves that no one has...yeup... "it's the cheese".. I mean the Rotary!
Yeah, I know they're still hand built and production of those engines are still not adequate even for 8 usage. But find a way, hire more elves, outsource to India, get Mrs. Claus to help out!
So for 2007, go ahead and put some NEW Rotaries in the sleigh. Build it and we shall come. Start it about 17K, 22max..I can care less about the leather, keyless doors, homelink, interior trim or roll up windows. We're RotorHeads and we'll just keep waiting....

Mazda have over the last couple of years started to get the hang making great looking cars cars again. Please make the right decission and keep it sports and keep it rotary. Mazda dont have a good piston breeding so please dont spoil the only success you have had (other than MX5) by putting a piston engine in and kill off the only true heritage you have.
Gary
rotaryart.uk.com

Unusual - a striking design for a (relatively) small car that looks like it could genuinely be lived with. Just what I am looking for in fact. In an age of focus group inspired greyness I really hope this makes it into production.

It has to be perfect for a rotary engine: After all, if you wanted "bland" you wouldn't have this on your short list would you! Got to be room for piston or performance rotary options in the same range like Mazda used to do.
A

For me, the truly defining aspect of Mazda is the rotary engine. It changes the marque from a "just another car maker" to one which not only breaks boundaries, but has *no* equal in the world.

Mazda has sold loads of RX-8's not just because it is a superb car, but because it is *different*. When I look at most new cars today, I see a lacklustre, unimaginative and derivative selection, with most marques following each other like lemmings over a cliff.

There is definitely a market for this sort of car, but please make it as special under the bonnet as it is on the outside. A large segment of the target market for the Kabura will be enthusiasts, who like different, and to Mazda enthusiasts different means rotary.

I think the real issue here is whether Mazda want to follow the standard, or set the standard.

I liked the rx8 so much that I traded in my first 8 (Jan 2004) for a new August 2005 model.

Come on Mazda, be loyal to the many thousands of rotary engine fans that have supported you with the RX8 and it's predecessors. Produce the Kabura with a rotary engine too and if it helps, why not also give the option of a conventional engine? It's obvious where the new car has inherited it's looks from, so you are already half way there!

Wow... Go MAZDA!! Love the styling of the rear, the Front is a bit American for my taste but thats the target market and it is a concept so on that front its a winner!

Now for the Important bit, Conventional Piston Vs Revolutionary Rotary... conventional = dull, comon, unoriginal, conforming and expected. Revolutionary, there's a word for you, often associated with the car manufacturer MAZDA for things like the RX-7, RX-8, and the MX-5 which is widley recognised for solely reviving the small sports car market! Revolutionary = new, rare, radical, unconforming, exciting and unexpected!

Mazda Rocked the boat with its newest to date Rotary master peice, the RX-8, with its radical styling and thourouly improved wankel technology it stormed the motoring press, and was a success in sales.

The latest ingenious concept from Mazda could not be truly inspiring or exciting with a conventionaly dull and uninteresting piston engine... I truly feel Mazda should live up to the standard they have set and spin the compotion of the road with a Rotary powered masterpeice.

For mazda not to make this car with out a rotary engie would be a waste,for such a car from mazda not to have rotary power would leave me thinking how committed to rotary is mazda?
Such a car with a 20b engine would be amazing.
Mazda you know it makes sense.
Its better to be Rotary than to be Pist-on :0)